Stress-related cortisol levels in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) plasma do not affect peripheral amino acids chemoreception

1. 1. Electrophysiological responses of the channel catfish barbels gustatory system to 10^-4M of two amino acids, l-alanine and l-arginine, were monitored following transportation of the fish to the laboratory's holding tanks. 2. 2. During the entire monitoring period, up to 20 days post-transportation, only small changes in gustatory response were observed, which were not correlated with changes in plasma cortisol levels, which were used as a stress indicator. 3. 3. Injecting channel catfish with cortisol produced no significant effect on gustatory perception of the two amino acids tested, although it accelerated liver glycogen depletion.